The sequel picks up where the original, based on the children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett, left off. In the first installment, Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) invents a machine that produces food out of water that goes haywire and is shown to be destroyed. However, in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,” it’s revealed that the machine is still operating and produced monstrous food-animal hybrids.

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” brought in $30 million domestically in its opening weekend in 2009 and $243 million overall worldwide. The sequel brings back many of the original voice talents, including Hader, Anna Faris as the female lead Sam Sparks, Andy Samberg, James Caan and Neil Patrick Harris.

It does, however, have two new directors: Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, who both worked on the first film as a story artist and head of story, respectively. The duo previously directed MTV toon “Clone High” and Cameron directed the animated “Open Season 3.” The directors of the original, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, will serve as executive producers to the sequel and also worked on the story.